Birth Testimonials

   Birth Testimonials

I cannot say enough positive things about Trang Onderdonk and here is why you should have her by your side while bringing life into the world. Trang is truly a gifted doula whose compassion and commitment to her work shine through.  I first reached out to Trang in my last trimester before my daughter Juliana was born. Being a new, expectant mother, I was afraid about my impending labor and wanted the least amount of medical interventions possible.  Trang spoke to me several times and met with me and my husband before I gave birth. Her approach and caring attitude made me feel like I had known her forever and I was comfortable with having her in my delivery room. I went into labor in the early morning and within a very short period of time Trang was by my side at the hospital. We did laps around the maternity floor and she was able to keep me upbeat and positive the entire time. Not only did we walk, she worked tirelessly through approximately 20 hours providing skilled massage, counter pressure, and acupressure techniques. Trang worked hand in hand with my doctor and nurses as well as being present or invisible whichever was needed at the time. When my daughter was born, Trang was as excited as my mom and it sincerely felt like Juliana was a part of her family. My birth experience was truly enriched having Trang’s support and I am so happy to say that this doula became my forever friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Trang! God bless!

Amy – Wayne, New Jersey

Trang was beyond supportive in all aspects from my pregnancy to delivery. Never once did I feel uncomfortable, judged, or shy in talking about things that otherwise may have been awkward. She made both my husband and I feel confident in pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I learned so much from Trang that I don’t think I would have otherwise known without working with her. She helped my husband feel part of the process and helped educate him. She was always there for me to text or call before and after each appointment, truly listened to how I was feeling, was non-judgmental about anything, and was the sweetest presence. Before becoming pregnant, I was always afraid of what it would be like, and Trang helped me find the beauty in it. She came and did yoga with me when I was feeling stressed, recommended books to help me educate myself, and helped me advocate for myself when I needed to. I truly attribute my smooth pregnancy and delivery to Trang’s support and guidance. She was such a huge part of my delivery, breathing with me, supporting my husband so he could support me, and encouraging me when I really needed it. I cannot sing enough praises about Trang!

Lauren and Matt – Waldwick, NJ

I didn’t have a birth doula with my first two deliveries.  When I delivered my 2nd baby, I experienced a spinal headache (from the epidural) for a full week after delivery.  It was an unpleasant experience that prompted me to strive for a natural delivery the third time around.  To accomplish this, I knew I would need a birth doula for support.  I met Trang and knew right away she was the one I wanted with me, along with my husband.

During the laboring and birthing process, Trang accompanied me the whole time providing emotional and physical support and encouragement.  She helped me keep focus on my goal, which I consider a success because I made it to 10cm and pushed without an epidural.  In the end, my situation warranted a medical emergency c-section.  Even after a long laboring process, Trang continued to stay with me in the operating and recovery room.  It must have been a good 10 hours she was with me without any breaks for herself.  She completely dedicated herself to me and my care.

From the very beginning, Trang was very caring and motherly towards me, checking up with me several times before my due date, and following up with me several times after delivery.   When I got home from the hospital, she made sure all of my basic needs were met:  did I get sleep?  did I eat?  did I shower?  And asked me how I was feeling.  Her focus wasn’t just about my newborn…it was about ME.  Other support people like friends and family tend to forget about the mom and what the mom has been through.  They immediately want to see and hold the baby.  With Trang, her concern is you, the mom.  She made several visits bringing delicious food and completely took over the household and the care of my newborn. I was extremely thankful to have her.

Karen – Glen Rock, NJ

My partner and I feel extremely lucky and grateful to have had Trang as our doula! Trang gave us so many resources and came all the way to our house to show us various labor positions and went over what we could do to begin preparing for labor. She was always available when we reached out with questions. On the day I went into labor, she helped us figure out the right timing to head to the hospital. She was my absolute rock during my labor and delivery and I don’t know how I would’ve managed without her! No amount of reading books, googling, and attending prenatal classes can compare to having an extremely experienced and dedicated doula like Trang. Trang stayed by my side, supporting me throughout the many, long hours of my labor. Trang was always attentive to me and my needs, which helped me remain calm and gave me a sense of reassurance. During labor, she helped me shower, get into labor positions, and made sure I stayed hydrated. She gave me massages and knew exactly where to apply the right pressures to help me through my contractions. She also gently guided me through breathing techniques. With her attentiveness, knowledge, dedication, and kindness, she made a huge, positive impact on my pregnancy and  labor experience, and I will always be grateful to her!

Working with Trang as my birth doula was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. Her calm demeanor, knowledge of childbirth, and dedication are just a few of her exceptional qualities. From the day we met her, she walked us through the exercises and was always available when we had questions leading up to the birth of our baby. The day of delivery, Trang showed up at 6am, prepared with all of her equipment. Seeing her was a relief! I didn’t even have to say a word. She could tell from my facial expressions where I needed to be massaged or what position I needed to be in. Because of Trang, I was able to go beyond my goal of 5-6cm dilation before asking for an epidural. She stayed with me the entire time and did not take one break. Instead, she just ate quick snacks in the corner! Post delivery, Trang showed up at my house with homemade turkey chili and blueberry muffins that lasted us a whole week. She showed me so many tricks on how to take care of my baby and walked me through bathing and breastfeeding. I wish we could keep her forever, haha! I highly recommend Trang if you are considering a doula. You will not regret the investment.

Anita- West New York, New Jersey

We had the pleasure of having Trang as our doula during the birth of our son. He is our first child and we are new to the area. We did not have any close friends or family near by for support. I had many worries about going into labor while my husband was away on business or at work and feeling nervous about doing everything alone. Then we met Trang! She immediately made me feel relaxed and supported. She helped us prepare for the birth of our son with helpful reading materials, exercises, and relaxation tips. She was always easy to communicate with and available to answer questions. She gave kind instructions to my husband so he could be actively involved in my labor (which meant so much to me).  Trang came over to our home as soon as we determined I was in real labor and she stayed with us through the whole beautiful thing. My husband and I were so incredibly grateful to have Trang’s experience and calm, reassuring spirit with us. She guided us gently through the whole event and even helped us determine the best time to leave for the hospital. I truly believe I was able to stay more calm and relaxed during my labor because of her presence. I would highly recommend Trang to anyone in search of a doula. She is a fantastic doula!! I actually look back on my labor journey and smile. Thank you, Trang for being there!! You were indispensable that day!

Angela and Mark- Bayonne, NJ

Choosing Trang as our Doula was the absolute best decision we made for the birth of our first child.  Trang is exceptional at what she does because she is incredibly kind, warm, and compassionate. Trang is also extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her practice. She made my husband and I feel so at ease and comfortable throughout the entire process and we both feel incredibly indebted to her for getting us through a very long and challenging labor. My water broke in the early morning hours of my exact due date and from that point on, nothing went as “planned.”  But Trang was there with us every step of the way, encouraging me to push through when I felt I had no strength left. I truly could not imagine how I would have made it through the day without Trang there by my side and she will always hold such a special place in my heart and in my daughter Eve’s birth story.

Andrea- Jersey City, NJ

During our pregnancy we turned to many places for help—a 5-week private course, multiple classes offered by our hospital, numerous books, articles, and apps—and Trang was by far the most valuable source of information, guidance, and support we found. After meeting with several prospective doulas who weren’t the right fit, we connected with her immediately and throughout the process she surpassed all of our expectations. She is patient, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and highly skilled. Above all, she was dedicated to helping us achieve the goals of our birth plan in having as few drugs and interventions as possible. As nature had it, we had a long labor (44 hours) and because of Trang, we never felt rushed or unsafe. She always seemed to know what to do, whether it was massage, time to use the ball, time to try a new position, time to eat, try rebozo, shower, or rest. In the end, we had the birth experience we’d envisioned, with no drugs and no interventions, and given our long labor time, it’s hard to imagine having been able to see it through without her. She made our birth experience truly special and we would recommend her to anyone.

Anne and Brian-Jersey City, NJ

I absolutely loved my doula, Trang Onderdonk. I reached out to her blindly based on a recommendation. Look no further than Trang for a doula! She’s knowledgeable, professional, and caring. I should note that she’s a great doula for all types of moms. I think there is a perception that you only need a doula for an all natural birth, but I used her for a vaginal/epidural birth and really can’t imagine doing it again without her. She was sensitive to some of my issues with my back, in case that’s a consideration for anyone. She’s totally great with family members…my mom and husband adored her!

Tia-Hoboken, NJ

 

I don’t know how I could have gotten through my birthing experience without Trang. I hadn’t planned on working with a Doula, but after attending the birthing class Trang hosts at Integrative OB I realized that working with a Doula would be important for my own peace of mind and strength during delivery. Trang is warm and comforting and was by my side providing support, both physical and emotional. From encouraging words, to making our delivery room comfortable, to physical massage and assistance during contractions, to simply a calming presence. She knew exactly when to step in, and when to give me space. She was in the hospital with us for over 20 hours and didn’t seem to tire or fade, which blew me away.

I didn’t initially seek out a Doula because I wanted to have an epidural, but I also wanted to labor without the epidural for as long as possible so that I would have the best chance at delivering vaginally. Trang was there to help me get through as much as possible before the epidural, and never passedjudgment or made me feel pressured to labor without it longer than I decided. It was wonderful to feel like I had a coach that believed in me, but that the decision-making was ultimately mine.

Trang also helped my son latch for breastfeeding immediately following my delivery. I was exhausted and intimidated, but Trang was right there to help me take advantage of his instinct to breastfeed to give him the best start. As I said, I can’t imagine having gone through the experience without her. And the postpartum visit was just wonderful! It was like having family in town.

Sarah-Jersey City

Trang helped make our birth experience very enjoyable and a massive success – my wife and I would recommend her as a Doula to anyone who wants the best version of their child birth possible. Trang is such a positive energy and helped my wife stay confident throughout pregnancy and labor. During our first conversation with Trang, she asked my wife how she felt about labor and my wife said “scared.” Over the next couple of months my wife learned to be more confident and even took a nap during early contractions in the hospital. Trang is also experienced and knows how to navigate local hospitals. There was a moment during late labor where the nurse said “we can’t find the baby’s heart rate” (turns out it was just the baby monitor not positioned right). My wife asked me if everything was okay – one glance at Trang and she gave me the comforting nod that all was okay leaving me able to reassure my wife and continue having a smooth labor. That moment stands out as one I’ll always remember as both my wife and I were terrified, but Trang’s experience helped us feel immediately reassured.

Trang really cares and is passionate about helping parents welcome their newest family members into the world. She makes sure you are tackling some of the basics that could normally get lost during the process such as eating and staying hydrated. She even suggested I get in a walk to get some fresh air and bring my wife back a nice snack during a quiet period in early labor.

Overall, Trang makes everyone’s experience better. Almost all of the hospital staff seemed to know of Trang and were happy that we were working with her. We regularly heard comments like “Trang is the best” and “we love Trang.” In a world where hospital staff are spread thin, Trang was a warmly welcomed addition to our delivery team. Ultimately, we had a very smooth labor that we would not have had without Trang. My wife stayed comfortable throughout labor and even managed to avoid an epidural or any other form of pain medication. We will 100% have Trang join us for baby number 2.

Mason and Tanya-Jersey City